Elliot Lake, a city in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada, is situated north of Lake Huron, midway between the cities of Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie in the Northern Ontario region. The city's history traces back to a seasonal Ojibwa village that once extended along the lake's shoreline near the present hospital. The town takes its name from the lake, with the earliest appearance of the name on the Dominion map of 1901. Elliot Lake was officially incorporated as a city in 1990.
Elliot Lake was established as a planned community for the mining industry in 1955 after the discovery of uranium in the area. The city was once dubbed the "uranium capital of the world," with its population growing to about 25,000 by the late 1950s. The principal mining companies were Denison Mines and Rio Algom. However, by the early 1990s, depleted reserves and low prices led to the closure of the last mines in the area.
Following the cessation of mining, Elliot Lake diversified its economy, promoting itself as a retirement community, advanced manufacturing hub, and tourist destination. Today, the city's economy continues to grow, with major employers including mining services firms, specialty manufacturing organizations, forestry businesses, professional services offices, and an increasing number of technology organizations.
Elliot Lake is situated on the Canadian Shield, surrounded by dense forest, muskeg swamps, numerous lakes, winding rivers, and hills of Precambrian bedrock. The local forests are mixed deciduous and coniferous, with vibrant autumn colors. The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer, American black bear, beaver, loon, muskrat, otter, Canada goose, and lynx.
Elliot Lake has a humid continental climate, with warm, rainy summers and long, very cold winters. The city experiences extremely heavy snowfall and high precipitation year-round.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Elliot Lake had a population of 11,372 living in 5,839 of its 6,275 total private dwellings, a change of 5.9% from its 2016 population of 10,741.
Elliot Lake is connected to the south by Highway 108, a 30 km distance to Highway 17, also known as the Trans-Canada Highway. The city also has an airport for general aviation and provides hourly bus service through Elliot Lake Transit.
Elliot Lake is home to several local festivals, including the Jewel in the Wilderness Festival, Heritage Weekend, and the Elliot Lake Arts on the Trail festival. The city also houses the Elliot Lake Mining and Nuclear Museum and two community monuments.
Elliot Lake offers a variety of tourist attractions, including the Elliot Lake fire tower lookout, Mississaugi Provincial Park, Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, and several hiking trails. The city also boasts beautiful beaches, ski and mountain bike trails, golf courses, and conservation areas.
Elliot Lake has been home to several notable individuals, including hockey players Rick Brebant, Alex Henry, Jeremy Stevenson, and Zack Stortini, writers Kayt Burgess and Catharine Dixon, weightlifter Christine Girard, and socialite Suzanne A. Rogers. The late Canadian-American actor Alan Thicke also grew up in Elliot Lake.
